Uzawa type algorithms for nonsymmetric saddle point problems

In this paper, we consider iterative algorithms of Uzawa type for solving linear nonsymmetric saddle point problems. Specifically, we consider systems, written as usual in block form, where the upper left block is an invertible linear operator with positive definite symmetric part. Such saddle point problems arise, for example, in certain finite element and finite difference discretizations of Navier-Stokes equations, Oseen equations, and mixed finite element discretization of second order convection-diffusion problems. We consider two algorithms, each of which utilizes a preconditioner for the operator in the upper left block. Convergence results for the algorithms are established in appropriate norms. The convergence of one of the algorithms is shown assuming only that the preconditioner is spectrally equivalent to the inverse of the symmetric part of the operator. The other algorithm is shown to converge provided that the preconditioner is a sufficiently accurate approximation of the inverse of the upper left block. Applications to the solution of steady-state Navier-Stokes equations are discussed, and, finally, the results of numerical experiments involving the algorithms are presented.